€6.4m in pay cuts targeted under HRA

The HSE’s Primary Care Division is targeting pay reduction savings of some €6.4 million under the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) Implementation Plan for this year, IMT reports. Projections based on March accounts indicate that further control measures are required to achieve the cost extractions from the additional hours, particularly to reduce the overtime and agency costs. Agency costs are reducing but not yet to expected levels. This was due in part to the need to fill critical development posts and to maintain safe levels of service in compliance with clinical standards, the HSE said. These agency costs will reduce as…